The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-21
HIS MEMORY's QUEER FREAK.
How Maj. Hartley, of Paterson, Lost
and Regained 1t.

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How Maj. Hartley, of Paterson, Lost
and Regained 1t.
From the Neto York World.
Maj. John e. Hartley, whose law Office is
at No. 145 Broadway, in this city, lives in
Paterson and is Judge Advocate General
on the staff of Gen. Steele, of the First Brig
ade n G. n. j. He has Just recovered
from long sickness resulting from an acct
dent in the discharge of his duty at the Sea
Grit encampment last August, which de-
throned his reason and brought him as near
deaths door as few men come who live to
tell of it, There is only one other case on
record like his, and his recovery is regarded
as so remarkable that a careful account is
being prepared for medical work. A
reporter found Maj. Hartley at his pleasant
residence last night and was told his story.
sit is simple tale,n said the Major, smil-
ing, and then he leaned back in an easy
chair and began.
1.-THE Adiutant and aids were forming the
brigade for dress parade on the night after
we arrived in camp, Sunday, Aug. 81, when
Gen. Steele rode out upon the field. | fol-
lowed him. In the centre of the parade
ground the gun squad had taken position
preparatory to firing the sunset gun. Gen.
Steele saw this, and desired me to go over
to the Lieutenant and tell him to move his
men to one side of the field. | put spurs to
my horse, which was strange animal hired
at Hoboken stable, and was soon by the
side of the Lieutenant. l gave the order,
and in an instant the gun was turned about.
The quick motion startled my horse, who
began to run away. He plunged forward
so quickly that was thrown on his neck,
and could not get back into the saddle.
1.-THE horse made for the stables not far
off, and quick as a fash | remembered that
the Intel was very low and that if | re-
manned where l was should be badly hurt.
l at once let myself down by the animals
side and then virtually threw myself to the
ground. A crowd of officers rushed to me
and picked me up, but did not think | was
hurt. They carried me to my tent, but l
was not injured apparently. / attended TO
my duties without any difficulty during the
week. Friday night the Governors ball
was held. attended it, and after being in
troduced to two la les and presenting them
to Gov. Green as well, was excused and re-
turned to my tent. There I was Joined by
Capt. Boltwood, one of Gen. Steele's aids
He noticed something strange in nv actions.
Capt. Thorpe, of Paterson, came to the tent
and sat outside in view of the opening for
awhile. Finally he burst out with: What
is the matter with youa Are you sickF I
then shook hands with him and said a few
words. had previously paid no attention
to him. He told me all this afterward. l
do not remember it.
"When camp broke up went to Ocean
Grove, where my wife was staving. We
spent week there and it was found that
nv memory was gone. My wife would
spend the afternoon with me, and at supper
| would ask her where she had been all the
afternoon. With you, of course she would
reply; but l had no remembrance of it.
After stopping a short time with my broth
err in New York | returned to Paterson On
September z, left home for my business in
New York. | remember saying to my wife
that If did not feel better before many
hours than l did then would come home
early. l remember nothing after this for
weeks.
II went to the Office I am told. stagger-
ing as | walked along the street in New
York like drunken man. Col. Hamilton,
of Hackensack, and Mai, Ruynon offered to
assist me when got off the ferry boat, but
| told them somewhat sharply that | YVES
quite able to walk to my Off re without any
mans help. When | walked into the office
DR.. Carr, of New York, brother-in-law of
Gen. Steele, was there transacting some
business. Mai. RuynOn had followed into
the Office, thinking might need assistance.
had scarcely taken off my coat when DR..
Carr exclaimed to Maj. Ruynon: why, that
man is crazy They got carriage and took
Burdick, doctor living in West Forty fifth
street. There stayed for weeks, my life
despaired of and my reason gone.
$50 far as I now know | was unconscious
for most of the time, for | cannot remem-
Der anything about it. DR.. w. B. King. the
electrician, of Fifty-third street; DR.. VIII
liam G. Hartley. of No $40 West Twenty
fourth street, and my brother and Prof.
.O'Connor, of the New York HOMEOPATHIC
College, attended me. They found that
clot of blood had formed on the part of the
brain controlling the memcry. Softening
of the brain would soon be the result, they
said; and if lived, which was improbable,
| would be hopeless lu attic. From Aug.
81 to Sept. z, when lost my memory com
pletely l was in the condition of mon
whose brain was softening, SUPPOSE. For
three weeks my pulse was in the forties and
there was no hope of life. / am told that
seemed to recognize my wife, and asked for
relations who had been in California for
years, and for my child, who died a year
ago. At the end Of this period | began to
gain, but my memory suddenly returned
about Oct. /. The clot of blood had be en-
absorbed, and the pressure on the brain was
removed
THE return of my memory was like
sudden great light bursting upon me- It
seemed as if a very bright reflector turned
the suns rays into my face Everything
and everybody seemed bright. That is the
only way can describe it, 1 had terrible
pain in my head. Every night was like a
year. had about twenty pillows and tried
to put my head in a position in which
could sleep, but without success. finally
became afraid to go to bed. would lie |
thinking of business and other matters, but |
would get everything mixed up My body |
was like piece of wood. If I moved an |
inch in bed the clothes which l ceased to
touch would be just as cold as bed is when |
one first gets in. About the middle of Octo- |
Der returned to Paterson with my physi- |
clans ana stayed at home until ten days ago, |
when began going to New York, but |
can't do anything yet.
~ did not strike my head in falling. The |